The Weekend Ahead – March 10 – 12

Arts Month continues to roll on – although, apart from the excellent Arts Festival, there’s not much going on art-wise … bummer. Still, there’s loads next weekend we promise, so in the meantime, you can keep yourself occupied with a couple of great marathons by way of the Translantau and CWS City Challenge, heaps of live music with trance legend Ferry Corsten, and sultry soul at Belon, and – last but not least – the Wellness 360 healthy lifestyle fair which returns to Repulse Bay this Saturday!

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Ferry Corsten

The seminal trance icon returns to Macau! This Dutch DJ is nothing short of a pioneer, anyone who remembers Ministry of Sound’s glory days in the late 90s and early 00s will be very familiar with the Corsten’s brand of melodic, hands-to-the-lasers trance tunes. Time to dig out the glow sticks and that bandana that definitely looks really, really cool and doesn’t make you look like an idiot.

Valuation Day Hong Kong

Ever wondered what a family heirloom is worth? You might be surprised when what you thought was junk, is in fact a total cultural treasure – that uncomfortably-erotic porcelain statue of a topless man at your gran’s house could be worth a fortune! This event provides a unique opportunity for the public to meet first-hand the valuation experts from Hong Kong and the UK. Bring along those old, dusty knick-knacks from around the house and get them valued for free, with the potential to sell them through Macey & Sons or Lyon & Turnbull in the UK. Some walk-in spaces are available, but they’re super limited so make sure you email ahead!

TransLantau

Push your physical limits whilst admiring Lantau’s views and scenery with the TransLantau races. Winding through Tai O village, climbing up Sunset and Lantau peaks, and incorporating three country parks, the beautiful views will give you the motivation you need to sail over the finish line. Either solo or in a team of two, participants have signed up for either the flagship event, Ultra 100km (5,800m+ elevation), or the sister races of 50km (2,700m+ elevation) and 25km (900m+ elevation). Go along and cheer them on, or be a nuisance and run alongside people that have actually signed up, until the police are called.

ALTN8 Music Festival

Born out of desire to take Hong Kong’s electronic music scene to the next level, while getting loads of local venues involved in the process to help build a tighter community, ALTN8 is a fascinating proposition. More of a venue crawl from one excellent event to the next as opposed to the usual format, ALTN8 will see you stopping in at Rúla Búla, Zafran, CÉ LA VI, and Spiga while seeing world-class acts like Stephen Bodzin, Tube & Berger, Wankelmut, and Richard Dorfmeister.

Sweat It Out

Sick of spending your Saturday mornings hungover in your flat? Well, why don’t you spend your Saturday morning hungover in a pool, being yelled at by sadistic, beautiful people who want to make you suffer? We say yelled at, really we mean encourage as you engage in one of the city’s most octane workouts. Your price of entry bags you an hour’s sweating, refreshments, and detox drinks, and a goodie bag.

Vik Muniz: Metachromes

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz reimagines some of the most famous art-works ever created by the likes of Van Gogh and Yves Klein using chalk and pastel sticks. Rather than being throwaway or reductive, Muniz’ works are a fascinating re-interpretation of pieces that we all know and love.

Axelle Red

The Belgian soul-pop icon makes her first ever trip over to the SAR, and her timing couldn’t be better, with her new album Acoustic about to drop. Red’s made a name for herself globally for her incredible song-writing ability and soothing, yet powerful vocals. Not one to be missed.

Between Utopia and Dystopia

Massimo de Carlo gallery’s first show of 2017, curated by Manuela Lietti, brings together works by six Chinese contemporary artists, exploring the notion of landscape. The six artists’ differing backgrounds and age is reflected in the interpretation of the subject matter, creating an exhibition with a uniquely differing tonality between each piece.

Wellness 360

Hong Kong’s premier health and well-being fair, set amongst the beautiful surrounds of Repulse Bay, returns this March 11. With vendors catering to every aspect of health and fitness for everyone in the family, it’s a must for spring cleaning of the self. As well as all kinds of health-related goodness, there will be arts & crafts and children’s activities so there’s really something for everyone. Best of all, it’s totally free!

When:March 11, (11am – 6pm)Where: 109 Repulse Bay Road, The Repulse BayHow much: FreeClick here for more information or email rachel@josootang.com if you would like to participate in the fair as a vendor!

Read more! Click here to find out more about the Wellness 360 this weekend.

Howard Hodgkin: In the Pink

Known for his abstract oil on wood-panel paintings, Hodgkin has established himself as one of Britain’s greatest living painters. His works explore the relationship between hand, eye, and memory through his unmistakable visual language.

Underground: Rustic #1

Hong Kong’s biggest live music collective changes gears with this awesome new events that will appeal to anyone that loves a bit of acoustic music. Expect a chilled atmosphere as Time Though, Ronnie Lynn, William Elvin and the Circus Tour, and Ziad Samman all take the stage.

Belon – Soul Shaker

The utterly fabulous Brenda Vaughn takes up residence at Belon this month to bring uncontrollable levels of cool to Hong Kong’s live music scene. The Soul Shaker series sees the soulful crooner mix old-school showmanship and improvisational brilliance as she absolutely dominates classics from legends such as Otis Reading and Aretha Franklin. There’s also some expertly mixed cocktails on the go which only adds to proceedings (try the Negroni, it’s outrageous). Just don’t robot dance, apparently that’s not cool anymore (or never was, I’m not sure).

CWS City Challenge 2017

This neat spin on the hum-drum marathon formula invites you to put together a team of two to five people for an adventure spanning some of Hong Kong’s best hidden gems! This team challenge will put your knowledge, communication, navigation, creativity, stamina, and teamwork to the test! The three-hour challenge takes teams through an 8 km course (teams do not have to cover the entire course) consisting of 30 check points, each with its own unique challenge. When arriving at a checkpoint each team will have to either answer a question, complete a physical challenge, or take a fun team photo. At the end, points are awarded for each successful challenge and the team with the highest points wins. Teams do not need to cover all checkpoints and do not win by finishing first!

Christian Action – Celebration of International Women’s Day 2017

An event that seeks to recognise the vital role of women migrant domestic workers and their contribution to Hong Kong society, as well as to promote the rights and protection of those in the community who are vulnerable and at risk of exploitation. The event also provides a space for migrant domestic workers to express and showcase their artistic capabilities through a photography exhibition and talent competition in the presence of Government representatives from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Equilibrium Live in Hong Kong

Combining folk music, black and symphonic metal, and a myriad of other esoteric influences, Equilibrium are one of Germany’s most glorious metal exports. Expect ale-swigging tales of goblins, swords and dragons combined with face-melting riffs, synths, and drums. Definitely one of the most unique live acts you’ll see this year.

Science Alive

Seeking to promote a wider understanding of science and to encourage the pursuit of education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the excellent Science Alive makes a welcome return to Hong Kong. Leading UK scientists and communicators will be in Hong Kong, taking part in activities and workshops along with a full schedule of interactive drama shows, outdoor environmental learning sessions, family workshops, science lectures, and debates.

Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival

March sees 17 authors and illustrators come together for 10 days of work­ shops, talks, and readings. As well as touring schools throughout the city, there will be workshops open to the public with events at Comix Home Base this weekend. Learn how to draw characters real enough to walk off the page with award-winning Kiwi illustrator, Sarah Davis, in The Crazy Characters Workshop on Saturday. And fellow New Zealander Blair Reeve relates his comical tale of Greta von Gerbil & Her Really Large Lexicon on Sunday.

When:Until March 17Where:Comix Home Base, 7 Mallory St, Wan ChaiHow much: Free
More information and full schedule can be found here

45th Hong Kong Arts Festival

Featuring over 1,600 outstanding international and local artists in 129 performances, this year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival is shaping to be the biggest ever. Encompassing everything within the creative arts spectrum across opera, music, theatre, and dance, the festival has established itself as a global cultural highlight. This weekend is a doozy with Camerata Salzburg and Piotr Anderszewski, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta performing Ethereal Is the Moon, and the Michael Rudman directed All My Sons.

When: UntilMarch 18Where: Various locations (click here for programmes)How much: Varies by each performance
Click here for more information or to book your tickets

LKF Savouring Art Month

Returning for its second year, LKF Groups Savouring Art and Exhibitions campaign will see 12 restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong and California Tower create their special, thematic dishes and accompanying drinks. Going along with this year’s theme of “Colour of Ingredients”, expect the participating restaurants – which includes favourites such as CÉ LA VI, Kyoto Joe, and Mercato – to come up with some bright, playful, and delicious plates.

Where:Lan Kwai Fong (full restaurant list here)When:Until March 31How much:Various
Click here for more information and to book

Lan Kwai Fong Savouring Art – Vertical Gallery

Featuring over 40 pieces of world-famous print paintings and sculptures, from internationally renowned artists including Bansky, D*Face, Damien Hirst, and many more, Hong Kong’s first ever “Vertical Gallery” is a worthy addition to arts month. Some of the most recognisable imagery from contemporary art has been totally reworked, allowing them to take a whole new aesthetic prominence. Seeing Banksy’s Flower Bomber as a kind of action figure is fascinating, propagating his influence on pop culture.

When: Until March 31Where: Various restaurants within California Tower, Lan Kwai FongHow much: Free
Click here for more information

Hsiao Chin: Important Works in the 1960s

A unique insight into the career and work of pioneering Taiwanese abstract artist Hsiao Chin, which largely consists of curved and straight bold lines and shapes, touching upon concepts surrounding oriental spirituality with abstract symbolism.

DTC Hong Kong T20 Blitz

The Hong Kong T20 Blitz is back! Five franchise teams consisting of world famous players and Hong Kong’s finest cricketers – Afridi, Sangakkara, Dilshan, Sammy, and Misbah-ul-Haq – among others will go head-to-head for cricketing glory. Expect bats, balls, and … other cricket stuff. They’ll all be there. Stumps! That’s another cricket thing that will be there.

Phantasmagoria

A new art exhibition, yay! Australian illustrator Chloe Bennett’s Phantasmagoria showcases a collection of pop-art visuals, exploring the glorification of mundane and pedestrian objects. The main exhibition will feature five of Bennet’s aerosol on canvas works, three of which are inspired by Eastern food. The specially commissioned “Brain Food” serves as a play on the Cantonese staple of dim sum, where two bright hued brains and a dish of soy sauce are presented in a bamboo steamer basket. Get it? It’s called Brain Food, and it’s a picture of a brain – as food. Good thing you have us here to explain all this super deep, sub-textual art stuff.

The Coming Week

The Localiiz Socialiizer

Quoted as being “the greatest event ever thought of by anyone ever”, “A game-changer”, and “Christmas on steroids” (by Localiiz staff), our Socialiizer is a great chance to come say hello, knock back a cheeky couple of drinks at the open bar, help out local charity Mother’s Choice, and win some ace prizes. Sound good? Course it does!

HQ: #WordOnTheStreet Graffiti Showdown

Psych yourselves up for HQ’s very first graffiti showcase #WordOnTheStreet. Two talented graffiti artists will go head to head in a bid to win $3,000 along with a tasty Belvedere sponsorship, official winners video, HQ membership and bragging rights.

The Punchline Comedy Club’s All Irish Night

Bringing together a trifecta of red hot Irish stand-up talent, The Punchline Comedy Club’s All Irish Night has become a highlight in Hong Kong’s comedy calendar. This year sees Ireland’s answer to Flight of the Conchord’s, Totally Wired! take the stage alongside one of Ireland’s busiest comics, Ian Coppinger, and critically acclaimed stand-up, columnist and broadcaster, Colm O’ Regan. Due to high demand, performances will take place over three days on March 16, 17, and 18. Tickets are moving fast though so get yours before it’s too late!

TakeOut Comedy Presents: Dwayne Perkins LIVE

American stand-up comedian and regular crowd pleaser, Dwayne Perkins is one of biggest names on the global comedy circuit. He is best known for his appearances on Conan, Comedy Central and The Jay Leno Show. Now he’s coming to Hong Kong to spread the laughter. Although he may occasionally address uncomfortable topics and drop a few harsh truths, he doesn’t directly attack anyone or anything. Perkins has successfully mastered the art of understanding how different people will take away different things they see and hear, and tackles his controversial topics accordingly.

Taste of Hong Kong Festival

Taste of Hong Kong returns for it second edition in 2017, and it’s shaping up to dwarf its inaugural year in terms of scope! Some of Asia’s finest food and drink producers will be taking over Central Harbourfront for four days of spectacular food and drink. Jam-packed with dishes from the city’s finest restaurants, as well as fantastic drinks and entertainment, this is a must for any self-respecting foodie.